Article
Chemistry, Physical
Dongyu Zhao, Yuanyuan Guo, Weihua Bi, Xin Li, Ran Duan, Lin Guo
Summary: This study reports a method to achieve uniform homeotropic alignment of liquid crystals using CuInS2 nanoparticles and explores the mechanism behind it. The crystal structures of the nanoparticles were found to depend heavily on the reaction solvents, which in turn anchor the liquid crystal molecules. The achieved homeotropic alignment is thermally stable and can be combined with parallel-aligning technique to achieve variable pretilt angles.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Yuge Liang, Yumeng Wang, Mengmeng Zhu, Longzhen Qiu, Jun Zhu, Bo Zhang, Ying Liu, Hongbo Lu, Miao Xu
Summary: By modifying the surface wettability of PI films through oxygen plasma treatment, this paper achieved control of the pretilt angle of liquid crystals. A new mode for GHLC smart windows with intermediate initial transmittance was established by controlling the pretilt angle.
ACS APPLIED ELECTRONIC MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Pei Qiu, Yang Guo, Lingyu Huang, Jun Li, Jiaxu Huang, Min Wang, Zhiyu Zhang, Shaolin Xu
Summary: This study proposes a patterned laser-induced microjet-assisted ablation method for fabricating precision microgrooves with controllable cross-sections on difficult-to-machine materials. The method utilizes a directional laser-induced microjet to expel debris and bubbles during the laser ablation process and spatially modulates the laser spot into specific geometric shapes to control the deposited laser energy for carving microgrooves with designed cross-sections. A reliable geometrical model based on the ablation threshold theory is developed to guide the processing parameter selection, and the method achieves decoupled control of groove depth and width in a single-path laser ablation process. The demonstration on single crystalline silicon carbide validates the effectiveness of this method. This patterned laser-induced microjet-assisted ablation method provides a new route for fabricating precision microgrooves with controllable cross-sections on difficult-to-machine materials.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Stefan Petrov, Vera Marinova, Ching-Cherng Sun, Ken-Yuh Hsu, Shiuan-Huei Lin
Summary: A detailed study on the surface interaction between LC molecules, graphene, and alignment layers was conducted to develop tunable LC phase retarders. Proper selection of polyimide as a polar layer showed promising results, with demonstrated potential for an electrically tunable LC phase retarder supported by graphene on a PDMS substrate.
APPLIED SURFACE SCIENCE
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Stefan Petrov, Nguyen Hong Minh Chau, Vera Marinova, Ching-Cherng Sun, Ken-Yuh Hsu, Shiuan-Huei Lin
Summary: In this study, a comprehensive evaluation of a side-chain azobenzene-containing polymer as a photo-alignment command surface for nematic liquid crystal (LC) device assembly was presented. Decomposition of birefringence creation dynamics was used to understand the relationship between photoinduced illumination intensity, pre-tilt angle, and anchoring strength at the LC/photopolymer interface. Electro-optical parameters of the assembled LC cell were characterized for actinic intensities up to 100 mW/cm2, and controlling the illumination intensity improved the anchoring strength by two orders of magnitude in the azimuthal plane.
Article
Crystallography
Masahiro Ito, Eriko Fukuda, Mitsuhiro Akimoto, Hikaru Hoketsu, Yukitaka Nakazono, Haruki Tohriyama, Kohki Takatoh
Summary: To create devices with incidence-angle-dependent transmittance, previous methods involved aligning liquid crystal (LC) in a horizontal manner near one substrate and vertically near another substrate. This study introduces a new approach by controlling the pretilt angles of blended alignment films near the substrates, using dichroic dyes to characterize the incidence angle dependence. By controlling the pretilt angle to be near 45 degrees, an LC element with a transmittance peak near a polar angle of 45 degrees was successfully constructed using a guest/host LC device.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Taimoor Ali, Steve J. Elston, Jia-De Lin, Stephen M. Morris
Summary: A polarization controllable band-edge liquid crystal (LC) laser configuration that allows on-demand control of the laser's polarization state is presented. By manipulating the electric field and retardance, any desired polarization state can be achieved. However, achieving a pure linear polarization state is challenging. This tunable LC laser has potential applications in various fields such as biomedical and display industries.
ADVANCED MATERIALS TECHNOLOGIES
(2023)
Article
Crystallography
Jia-De Lin, Po-Chen Wu, Ting-Shan Mo, Bing-Yau Huang, Chie-Tong Kuo, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: This study demonstrates controllable random lasing emissions in a dye-doped nematic liquid crystal (DDNLC)-infiltrated microcapillary, where the emission wavelength can be adjusted by changing the focusing position of the pumped pulses. By doping azo-dyes in the DDNLC, optical controllability of the lasing intensity and wavelength can be further achieved, enabling potential applications in multicolor emitting sources, vibration sensors, and UV sensors.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Neelam Yadav, Yuri P. Panarin, Jagdish K. Vij, Wanhe Jiang, Georg H. Mehl
Summary: A non-chiral ferroelectric nematic compound called DIO was studied using dielectric spectroscopy. The compound exhibits three nematic phases on cooling, namely the ordinary paraelectric nematic N, the intermediate nematic NX, and the ferroelectric NF phase. The compound shows two collective relaxation processes, P1 and P2, with P2 originating from polar/chiral molecules.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Ruicheng Lin, Yong Qi, Donghui Kou, Wei Ma, Shufen Zhang
Summary: This study reports a new wrinkled photonic elastomer structure inspired by a bright blue spider. By controlling the micro-wrinkle structure and parameters of photonic crystals, the structure achieves both one-directional and omni-directional angle-independent brilliant structural colors. The proposed structure has stability and sensitive deformation performance, and it has important implications for visual strain sensing, wearable devices, and information encryption.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Wenbo Ma, Bingxu Da, Guoqiang Zheng, Kun Dai, Chuntai Liu, Changyu Shen
Summary: A facile strategy to prepare polycarbonate/silica nanoparticles photonic crystals film with good mechanical robustness is proposed in this study. The film exhibits excellent mechanical properties, vivid structural color, and color change with the viewing angle. Furthermore, it can store information and be used as anti-counterfeiting labels.
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Congcong Luo, You Lu, Hengheng Zhu, Bing Yao, Yuanyuan Liu, Jun Zhou, Guoyuan Xu, Yue Ding, Shifan Wang, Ying Chen, Jing Li, Aikebaier Reheman, Jiwei Wang
Summary: Printable cholesteric liquid crystal-based printing inks with excellent stability and a wide range of color patterns have been fabricated on a black substrate.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2022)
Article
Optics
V. V. Belyaev, A. S. Solomatin, S. Kumar, D. N. Chausov, A. A. Belyaev, A. L. Margaryan, N. G. Akopyan
Summary: The diffraction of polarized light transmitted through an optically anisotropic substrate with surface microrelief was calculated using the Exedeep program. The results of modeling can be used to create diffraction optical elements that operate in the visible, IR, and terahertz ranges for materials with positive and negative optical anisotropy.
JOURNAL OF OPTICAL TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Gaoling He, Zhiyin Cai, Shanglin Xiang, Dongyu Cai
Summary: The dense microstructure of MXene nanosheets is crucial for high-capacitance fibers. Long-time shearing of MXene sediment leads to an ordered arrangement of nanosheets, resulting in ultradense fibers with exceptional electrochemical performance. The additive-free and controllable approach shows a high specific capacitance, capacity retention rate, energy density, and power density for the supercapacitor.
ACS APPLIED NANO MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Hu Dou, Mei Chen, Ding Li, Gang Yu, Yu-Bao Sun
Summary: A controllable viewing angle optical film using a microprism array filled with liquid crystal has been proposed, which can adjust the display performance of liquid-crystal displays for small and large viewing angles. By adjusting the applied voltage, the optical film can achieve different diffuse abilities and solve the contrast loss problem. Simulation results show an increase in contrast and brightness at different viewing angles with varying applied voltage.
Article
Engineering, Electrical & Electronic
Tzu-Yuan Lin, Jian-Hung Lin, Jia-De Lin, Chia Chen Hsu, Chia-Rong Lee
JOURNAL OF LIGHTWAVE TECHNOLOGY
(2020)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shun-An Jiang, Jia-Lun Chang, Jyun-Wei Lin, Yan-Song Zhang, Ting-Shan Mo, Jia-De Lin, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: This study demonstrates a near-full-color tunable chiroptical electrothermochromic device using a supramolecular chiral photonic material FLC-CLC, which can be electrically tuned over the entire visible region with high color performance at near room temperature. The study also shows two potential low-voltage tunable applications, a broadband tunable laser and a near-full-color tunable coaxial microfibric textile, based on electrothermochromic FLC-CLC materials.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Yan-Song Zhang, Chia-Lien Ma, Vladimir Yu Rudyak, Shun-An Jiang, Sergey A. Shvetsov, Jia-De Lin, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: Liquid crystals are distinctive materials applicable to various disciplines, with diverse structures and topological defects affected by factors such as nematic elasticity and surface anchoring. This study investigates the interaction between cholesteric LC microdroplets and microfibers, revealing different surface anchoring modes and morphological evolution under temperature and light control. The externally controllable LC structures open up possibilities for applications in fields such as topological remote control, nanoscience, and biomedical research.
JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR LIQUIDS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wei-Fan Chiang, Shih-Xuan Lin, Yong-Xuan Lee, Yu-Han Shih, Jih-Hsin Liu, Harry-Miyosi Silalahi, Chia-Rong Lee, Chia-Yi Huang
Summary: The thickness of the liquid crystal (LC) layer plays a crucial role in its terahertz birefringence, with both too thick and too thin layers resulting in small birefringence. Research shows that at a specific thickness, the LC layer can exhibit a significant terahertz birefringence.
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Wei-Fan Chiang, Yu-Yun Lu, Yin-Pei Chen, Xin-Yu Lin, Tsong-Shin Lim, Jih-Hsin Liu, Chia-Rong Lee, Chia-Yi Huang
Summary: Liquid crystal cells coated with metamaterials were fabricated, with experimental results showing an increase in resonance frequencies with a specific angle, demonstrating potential as passively tunable terahertz filters.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Shun-An Jiang, Chien-Hsiang Wang, Yan-Song Zhang, Ting-Shan Mo, Shuan-Yu Huang, Xiang-Lin Hsieh, Yu-Jun Wong, Jia-De Lin, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: This study demonstrates the formation of large-area disordered two-dimensional microgrid chiral structures in cholesteric liquid crystal systems due to photopolymerization-induced Helfrich deformation effect. It shows that a one-dimensional UV-laser interference field can be used to effectively control the orderliness of the postformed 2D microgrid structure over a large exposed area. By exploring factors such as CLC pitch, angle, and intensity of interfering laser beams, this research provides insights into manipulating and improving the orderliness of periodic micro/nanostructures in self-organized supramolecular systems.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Shun-An Jiang, Chia-Chun Lai, Yan-Song Zhang, Jia-De Lin, Wei-Chun Lin, Xiang-Lin Hsieh, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: New optical-photonic devices that can manipulate light characteristics dynamically are crucial for modern and future optics development. Optical vortex with spiral wave surfaces, which possess intrinsic orbital angular momentum, can be applied in advanced optics like optical tweezers, ultra-resolution microscopes, optical communication, and quantum technology. The study presents a Bragg-Berry optical vortex generator (BBOVG) made of a circularly symmetric chiral photonic structure using a simple method, demonstrating the manipulation of reflective optical vortices with opposite OAM signs in the visible range near room temperature.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yan-Song Zhang, Hung-Sheng Weng, Shun-An Jiang, Ting-Shan Mo, Po-Chih Yang, Jia-De Lin, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: The study demonstrates the platform for creating smart devices using light- and heat-responsive beads, showcasing their applicability in advanced optomechanical integrated microsystems and multiresponsive Fabry-Perot resonators.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Crystallography
Yi-Hong Shih, Xin-Yu Lin, Harry Miyosi Silalahi, Chia-Rong Lee, Chia-Yi Huang
Summary: The study demonstrated the fabrication of an optically tunable terahertz filter using a metasurface-imbedded liquid crystal cell with photoalignment layers. Experimental results showed an increase in resonance frequency of the metasurface in the cell with the LC director angles, and a frequency tuning region of 15 GHz was achieved. Simulated results indicated the resonance frequency shift was due to the birefringence of the LC, with a value of 0.13 in the terahertz region. This optically tunable terahertz filter has potential applications in terahertz telecommunication, biosensing, and terahertz imaging.
Article
Nanoscience & Nanotechnology
Yan-Song Zhang, Zhi-Qun Wang, Wei-Cheng Chuang, Shun-An Jiang, Ting-Shan Mo, Jia-De Lin, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: This study focuses on the dynamic control of motion at the molecular level to promote programmable modulation of sophisticated self-organized superstructures. By utilizing solar renewable energy, the spectral position and handedness of a photonic superstructure can be continuously and reversibly tuned. Advanced photoresponsive chiroptical devices have potential to replace traditional elements with their ecofriendly characteristics, fast response, stability, and high efficiency.
ACS APPLIED MATERIALS & INTERFACES
(2021)
Article
Polymer Science
Yan-Song Zhang, Zhi-Qun Wang, Jia-De Lin, Po-Chih Yang, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: This paper presents a freestanding film based on cholesteric liquid crystal networks, which can transform a 2D flat plane into a 3D nanometer-scale topography through light switching to control the wettability of the surface.
MACROMOLECULAR RAPID COMMUNICATIONS
(2022)
Article
Crystallography
Yi-Hong Shih, Harry Miyosi Silalahi, Ting- Tsai, Yi-Chen Chen, Jou-Yu Su, Chia-Rong Lee, Chia-Yi Huang
Summary: A terahertz metasurface embedded in a dye-doped liquid crystal cell was fabricated, serving as an optically tunable and thermally erasable terahertz intensity modulator. Irradiation of the pump beam reduces transmittance and heating removes adsorbed dye molecules, indicating potential applications in terahertz imaging, telecommunication, and information encryption.
Article
Crystallography
Jia-De Lin, Po-Chen Wu, Ting-Shan Mo, Bing-Yau Huang, Chie-Tong Kuo, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: This study demonstrates controllable random lasing emissions in a dye-doped nematic liquid crystal (DDNLC)-infiltrated microcapillary, where the emission wavelength can be adjusted by changing the focusing position of the pumped pulses. By doping azo-dyes in the DDNLC, optical controllability of the lasing intensity and wavelength can be further achieved, enabling potential applications in multicolor emitting sources, vibration sensors, and UV sensors.
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Yan-Song Zhang, Zhi-Wei Lin, Hui-Chen Yeh, Chi-Min Liang, Jia-De Lin, Po-Chih Yang, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: This study demonstrates a sandwich-film laser composed of photomechanical deformable azobenzene cholesteric LC elastomer (CLCE) PhC layers and an isotropic gain interlayer, which can quickly adjust the emission direction through UV irradiation. This flexible, portable, and durable laser system with controllable beam-steering is envisioned to have wide applications in autonomous vehicles, self-sustaining machines, and optical devices.
ADVANCED FUNCTIONAL MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Materials Science, Multidisciplinary
Yan-Song Zhang, Shun-An Jiang, Jia-De Lin, Po-Chih Yang, Chia-Rong Lee
Summary: Three-dimensional photonic crystal is a promising material with significant impact on scientific development in various future technologies. Blue phase liquid crystal has shown potential in fundamental studies and technological applications, but environmental stability remains a challenge. The fabrication of stretching-tunable blue phase elastomer photonic bandgap free-standing films demonstrates excellent performance characteristics and wide application prospects.
ADVANCED OPTICAL MATERIALS
(2021)
